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Exiled Thai leader calls for reform

Thaksin Shinawatra's remarks will spark fears in Bangkok that the former PM is contemplating a return to Thailand

Briton plunges to death in climbing accident

Matthew Allison, 26, was killed when he fell 155m (500ft) down a cliff while rock climbing in New Zealand on Friday

Sir Alan Sugar is considering firing himself

Stung by the reaction to his outburst at a business seminar, the government enterprise czar is suddenly feeling fragile

Sport News  

Murray beats Youzhny to win Valencia Open

The world No 4 wins in straight sets, 6-3 6-2, after recovering from a wrist injury exacerbated during the US Open

Australia wallop England to spoil Wilkinson's return

England 9 Australia 18: England fly half produces a superb performance but the exceptional visitors deservedly take Cook Cup

Injury-time winner eases pressure on Brown

Hull City 2 Stoke City 1: Vennegoor of Hesselink hits stoppage-time goal as Phil Brown's side come from behind

Business news  

£165bn loan keeping Lloyds alive

Bank’s reliance on state funding gives the first insight into the scale of aid extended to banks during the financial crisis

Brown in bank supertax row

The PM has thrown his weight behind a 'Tobin tax' on financial transactions as a way of taxing and reining in the banks

General Motors boss set for Jaguar

Senior sources said Carl-Peter Forster was sounded out about the job earlier in the year, and is expected to join in a few months

Comment  

Get me a rope before Mandelson wipes us all out

It’s a lovely idea, to get out of this stupid, Fairtrade, Brown-stained, Mandelson-skewed, equal-opportunities, multicultural hellhole

Sex and school don’t mix

We need to use education to break the gymslip-mum cycle by raising aspirations, rather than by getting teachers to give sex advice

• Mandatory sex lessons for every 15-year-old

Memo to Cameron: no more promises

If he takes office Cameron will find he’s never had it so bad. He would be wise to keep his commitments to a minimum accordingly

• Martin Ivens

Life and Style  

A tropical tan - for £1,000 or less

Stephen Bleach and Chris Haslam have found a host of great winter-sun breaks that won’t break the bank - just pick your beach

Jeremy Clarkson on the Mercedes-Benz CLK Black

Normally, I don’t really care whether car bosses read my columns. But I do hope the people at Mercedes are reading this

At home with Joss Stone

After tough times on the road, Joss Stone bought her rambling family home in Devon and is turning it into a haven of hippie chic

Arts & Entertainment  

The 100 Best Films of the Decade

Our pick of the best movies released in the Noughties. Do you agree with our selection? What were your favourites?

Norah Jones: It's always the quiet ones

By 23, she was the world’s biggest-selling jazz singer - but struggled to accept her fame. Is she now able to let people in?

James Cameron back in at the deep end

The Titanic director has finally resurfaced, with his $230m new film, Avatar. He says it will mess with people’s minds